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Eight months to go!

Ordination way forward
One church, two practices

Way Forward home page: www.lca.org.au/wayforward

Frequently asked questions: www.lca.org.au/wayforward/questions

General feedback: wayforward2024@lca.org.au

In October 2024, General Synod delegates will be voting on a proposal to allow for the LCANZ to function as ‘one church with two different practices of ordination’. This move was resolved by General Synod in February 2023, which instructed the General Church Board and the College of Bishops to ‘work through the theological, constitutional, and governance requirements’ for such a move. The resulting project, known as the Way Forward, began in March 2023.

The General Church Board and College of Bishops are the steering committee for the Way Forward project. Overseeing the deliverables and day-to-day operations and reporting to the steering committee is the project management team of Stella Thredgold (part-time), Tim Niewand (full-time) and Tony Vong (part-time). Supporting them is a three-member reference team and eight working groups comprising experts in their respective fields.

The entire church was invited to submit models for the Way Forward that aligned with the intent of the General Synod resolution. The more than 50 framework proposals and further general responses received underwent an extensive evaluation process and three frameworks were shortlisted for further consideration and development. These are: Confessional Communities, Congregations Decide and District Alignment.

You can learn more about the project by listening to the What is the Way Forward? Podcast at www.lca.org.au/what-is-the-way-forward

Ask your pastor, congregation chair or General Synod delegate for more information about the frameworks and for ways to get involved.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION…

www.lca.org.au/wayforward

Sign up to Way Forward eNews www.lca.org.au/wf-signmeup

Submit your feedback on the three shortlisted frameworks by Tuesday 13 February 2024.

You can comment via the online form on each of the framework pages below or by email to wayforward2024@lca.org.au

Or you can add your comments via the survey link below. Meanwhile, we are reading and answering every question and comment about the three frameworks or forwarding them to the working groups for consideration. Your input is guiding us towards the preferred framework, which will be submitted as a proposal to this year’s General Synod.

If you need a recap on the three frameworks, you might want to watch the webinar.

www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#webinar

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

We’d like to know what you are thinking and how you are feeling about the Way Forward; in particular the three frameworks. Please let us know, by taking the short survey. It’s anonymous (unless you choose to tell us your name.)

www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#survey

NEW RESOURCES

The Way Forward team has been hard at work producing new church bulletin inserts, PowerPoint slides for your church service announcements, and more. You can find them on our Resources page www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#promotions

Please ask your pastor or chairperson to use these resources to keep your members informed, and don’t forget to share the Resources link with others in your community.

WORKING GROUPS

A number of you have requested the terms of reference for the eight Way Forward working groups. We have added the terms of reference to the website, and you can find them at www.lca.org.au/wayforward/#wg-tor

TALK ABOUT IT

We want every member of the church to know what is happening so they can consider the options and contribute to the Way Forward. Please share the webinar recording with your congregations and communities. Synod delegates, in your responsible role, we are looking to you especially to engage your parish members in this conversation. We’ve prepared some talking points to help get the conversations started, and we welcome your congregation’s feedback on the three frameworks via the frameworks webpages.

www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#talking-points

DON’T FORGET TO PRAY

You are encouraged to pray for the unity of our church, during congregational worship, in your family and private devotion time, and whenever you meet with each other about the Way Forward project. For petitions especially written for this time in our church’s life: https://yourlca.com/wf-prayer-petitions

WHAT’S NEXT?

The three shortlisted frameworks are being further enhanced to meet the requirements of the General Synod resolution. After Easter, there will be a move from three frameworks to one preferred option.

WAY FORWARD MAJOR MILESTONES

MARCH 2023

Make appointments: The project management team and eight working groups were appointed. The working groups are comprised of people from across the church who are experts in their respective subject areas.

JUNE 2023

Call for models/frameworks: The entire church was invited to submit models for the Way Forward that aligned with the intent of the General Synod resolution.

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2023 

Evaluate frameworks: During this phase, the frameworks were evaluated and shortlisted for further consideration and development.

OCTOBER 2023-JULY 2024

Enhance frameworks: The shortlisted frameworks are being further enhanced to meet the requirements of the General Synod resolution.

AFTER EASTER 2024 

Move from three frameworks to one preferred option

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024

Preparation and prayer: There will be opportunities for the wider church to prayerfully prepare for the proposal to go before General Synod.

OCTOBER 2024 

General Pastors Conference and General Synod: General Pastors Conference will review the proposal, which Synod delegates will debate and vote on.

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